We often hear this line:
“But we’re still young… why is it taking so long to get pregnant?”

It’s a fair question. For generations, age was the main factor when it came to fertility. And yes, biology still agrees — fertility does decline with age. But in today’s world, that’s only part of the story.

More and more young couples — in their late 20s and early 30s — are struggling to conceive. And when we look beyond the reports and scans, we often find the answers hidden in everyday life.

Long work hours. Late-night binge watching. Skipped meals. Weekend stress. Weekday deadlines. Pollution. Processed food. Too much caffeine. Not enough sleep. Too much screen time. Not enough sunlight.

Sounds familiar?

Dr. Pallavi Chalasani sees this every day. Perfectly healthy-looking men and women, doing well in their careers, eating out five times a week, sleeping at 2 a.m., and wondering why their egg count or sperm count is low.

Here’s what we want every young couple to know: Fertility is fragile. And lifestyle plays a much bigger role than most of us realise.

For women, irregular cycles, PCOS, poor egg quality, and thin endometrium are all worsened by stress and lack of sleep. For men, sperm count, motility, and DNA quality drop when there’s poor nutrition, alcohol, smoking, or constant sitting.

Even emotional health matters. Anxiety and burnout affect hormone levels. Cortisol — the stress hormone — can throw your entire cycle off balance.

But here’s the good news: you can take charge.

Small changes make a big difference. Regular sleep. A bit of exercise. A balanced home-cooked diet. Less time on screens. More time outdoors. Learning to switch off after work. Saying no to overcommitment. Saying yes to rest.

These aren’t overnight fixes. But over weeks and months, your body listens. Your hormones listen. Your future listens.

And please, don’t wait until things go wrong. Even if you’re not planning a baby right now, think about your fertility like you’d think about your savings — something to protect, nurture, and grow with care.

If you’re trying to conceive and nothing’s happening after 6–12 months, don’t panic — but don’t ignore it either. Get a few basic tests done. Talk to a fertility expert. Knowledge is never wasted.

At the end of the day, fertility isn’t just about how old you are. It’s about how well you’re living — and how kindly you’re treating the one body you’ve been given.

So if you’re young, busy, and dreaming of a family someday — start caring today. Your future self will thank you.